Incorporating a nectar-based pesticide module into BeeHave, an agent-based model of honey-bee population dynamics
Data files
Jan 09, 2026 version files 393.48 KB
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README.md
3.02 KB
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S1_Netlogo_Model.zip
87.85 KB
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S2_code_changes.txt
302.62 KB
Abstract
Honey bees are important pollinators for many agricultural food crops, and the response of honey bee colonies to pesticides must be included in pesticide risk assessments. However, honey bee colony dynamics are driven by complex interactions of ecological, physiological, and chemical factors. Such complexity lends itself to a modeling approach to characterize colony responses to pesticides. The NetLogo-based model BeeHave is a detailed model of honey bee colony dynamics. One recently released version of this model (BeeHave_BeeMap_PEEM) considers pesticide exposure via the pollen ingestion pathway. However, nectar ingestion is also a critical exposure pathway, and an exposure module via nectar is needed for this model. We adapted BeeHave to include a nectar-based pesticide exposure module. Exposure is proportional to consumption of nectar and honey based on the energetic needs (kJ) of bee cohorts, and dose depends on the pesticide concentrations of nectar and honey. We assessed the model using a sensitivity analysis and by parameterizing the model to mimic a field-based colony feeding trial. The resulting modeled counts of honey bee adults and eggs followed the expected dose-based response of the parameterizing study, and were generally of the same magnitude. The addition of this module to BeeHave will allow for a comparison of predicted pesticide impacts via the nectar pathway with other honey bee colony models. Furthermore, by building on a prior pesticide exposure module, this version of BeeHave will also allow for the simultaneous estimation of pesticide impacts from two different exposure pathways.
This is the ReadMe file for the supplemental materials for the following manuscript: Dawson, D., Minucci, J. M., & Purucker, T. (2025). Incorporating a nectar-based pesticide module into BeeHave, an agent-based model of honeybee population dynamics. Ecological Solutions and Evidence, 6, e70105. https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.70105
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.qrfj6q5vj
Description of the data and file structure
The supplemental materials are stored in 4 files, including 3 zipped files (i.e., compressed folders stored with a ".zip" extension) and a .txt file. The compressed folders each contain multiple files once extracted, and each compressed folder has its own ReadMe file providing information on the content of the files in the folder.
- Here is a summary of each of the 4 supplemental files:
S1_Netlogo_Model.zip:This is a compressed folder that contains three files including a copy of the NetLogo model described in the manuscript, and 2 files needed to run the model. The user needs to downloand NetLogo version 5.3.1 to run the model, and to place the needed files in the same location as the model file on the user's computer.
- S2_code_changes.txt: This is a text file that contains the coding of the NetLogo model file, annotated to show where the coding has been modified from the version of the model it was based on (i.e. Schmolke et al. 2019). Instructions are included at the beginning of the file to guide the user in interpreting the annotations.
- S3_Sensitivity_Analysis.zip: This is a compressed folder containing the results of a sensitivity analysis (mentioned in the manuscript), and the materials necessary to replicate the sensitivity analysis. Contents include a ReadMe file that describes the contents, a PDF narrative document that describes the sensitivity analysis methods and results mentioned in the manuscript, and a Jupyter notebook file that can be used to complete the analysis. Note that the model and files contained in S1_Netlogo_Model.zip would be used with the Jupyter notebook.
- S4_Model Assessment.zip: This compressed folder contains a ReadMe file providing a list of contents, a PDF that includes additional results mentioned in the manuscript, a Juypter notebook that can be used to replicate the analysis, and assembled simulations for the convenience of the user. Note that the model and files contained in S1_Netlogo_Model.zip would be used with the Jupyter notebook.
Code/software
Netlogo, version 5.3.1 can be downloanded freely from: https://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/oldversions.shtml
The sensitivity analysis and model assessment were conducted using a Python interface with the model via Jupyter notebooks. This can be downloaded from https://jupyter.org/.